Eight UDP Legislators Join BJP in Meghalaya Assembly

Eight sitting legislators from the United Democratic Party (UDP) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 23, 2026, at the party headquarters in New Delhi. The defection increased the BJP's strength in the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly from two to 10 members, establishing it as the second-largest party after the National People's Party (NPP), which holds 33 seats. The UDP's strength dropped from 12 to four legislators.

The defecting MLAs, including Kyrmen Shylla and Lahkmen Rymbui, cited BJP assurances regarding local issues such as coal mining, the relocation of the Harijan Colony from Them Iew Mawlong, and the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule. Following the move, UDP President Metbah Lyngdoh suspended three of the defectors—Kyrmen Shylla, Olan Sing Suin, and Matthew Beyondstar Kurbah—after they failed to respond to show-cause notices.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma stated that the shift would not affect the functioning of the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, as both the UDP and BJP are constituent members of the ruling coalition. Sangma noted that the BJP has not requested additional Cabinet berths and ruled out an immediate reshuffle, characterizing the move as a decision between two political parties and individual legislators.